Metamorphic rock / Mineral variety
Stichtite in Serpentine (Atlantasite)
Mg6Cr2CO3(OH)16·4H2O (Stichtite) within Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 (Serpentine)
Hardness: 1.5-2.5 (stichtite) / 3-6 (serpentine); Color: Neon purple/pink patches in a yellow-green matrix; Luster: Waxy to greasy; Crystal structure: Trigonal (stichtite); Cleavage: Perfect basal.
- Hardness
- 1
- Color
- Neon purple/pink patches in a yellow-green matrix
- Luster
- Waxy to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 1.5-2.5 (stichtite) / 3-6 (serpentine); Color: Neon purple/pink patches in a yellow-green matrix; Luster: Waxy to greasy; Crystal structure: Trigonal (stichtite); Cleavage: Perfect basal.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the hydrothermal alteration of chromite-bearing ultramafic rocks (peridotite or dunite). It is primarily a secondary mineral found in serpentinite deposits, frequently associated with Precambrian age formations.
Uses & applications
Used primarily for ornamental jewelry (cabochons, beads), decorative carvings, and as a popular metaphysical or lapidary collector's stone.
Geological facts
First discovered in 1910 in Tasmania, Australia. The combination of green serpentine and purple stichtite is often trade-named 'Atlantasite'. It is one of the few minerals that can naturally produce a bright 'shocking pink' or purple hue.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by the distinct purple-on-green color contrast and the extreme softness of the purple patches (can often be scratched with a fingernail). Commonly found in the Stichtite Hill area of Tasmania, South Africa, and Canada.
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